Core i5-10400H vs Xeon E5-1660
Core i5-10400H
Xeon E5-1660
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-10400H is positioned at rank 652 and the Xeon E5-1660 is on rank 924, so the Core i5-10400H offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-10400H
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1660
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-10400H | Xeon E5-1660 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($29) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake-H (2020) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-10400H | Xeon E5-1660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($29) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10400H and Xeon E5-1660
Core i5-10400H
The Core i5-10400H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,246 points. Launch price was $149.
Xeon E5-1660
The Xeon E5-1660 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,324 points. Launch price was $290.
Processing Power
The Core i5-10400H packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-1660 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-1660 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-10400H versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 — a 16.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400H (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-10400H uses the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1660 uses Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10400H scores 8,246 against the Xeon E5-1660's 8,324 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E5-1660. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-10400H vs 15360 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-1660.
| Feature | Core i5-10400H | Xeon E5-1660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+18% | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.3 GHz+27% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 15360 kB (total)+150% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Comet Lake-H (2020) | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 8,246 | 8,324 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,391 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-10400H uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1660 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-10400H | Xeon E5-1660 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-10400H) / not specified (Xeon E5-1660). The Core i5-10400H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-1660 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10400H targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-10400H rivals Ryzen 5 4600H.
| Feature | Core i5-10400H | Xeon E5-1660 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Performance Laptop | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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